Attachment for rocking-chairs



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet l.

W. I. BUNKER.

ATTAGHMENT P011 ROGKING CHAIRS.

wrt/7E. 55215 fzz/a-fzzaz' (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

W. I. BNKER.

ATTACHMENT FOR, ROGKING CHAIRS. No. 341,448. Patented Meyll, 1886.

N. PETE RRRRRRRR Lnh ggggggggg mingen, D. l;

3 Sheets-Sheet `3.

(No Model.)

W. I. BUNKER.

ATTACHMENT POR ROGKING CHAIRS. No. 341,448. V PatentedkMay `11, 1886.

ugrzphur. Washington. DV C,

UNITED lSTATES- PATENT OFFICE.

VIIILIAM I. BUNKER, OFVGHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

ATTACHMENT FORaROCKlNG-CHAIRS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 341,448, dated May 11,1886.

Application filed March 6, i886.

.To @ZZ whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that LWILLIAM I. BUNKER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Chicago, Illinois, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Attachments for Rocking-Chairs, of which the followingis a speciattachment appliedV to the rockers and baserails of anordinary platform rocking-chair, one spring at the inside of each rockerand base-rail.

A is the spring, B the brackets, and C a rocker, and E a base-rail, of aplatform roeking-chair.

In constructing my improved spring I make a short turn or bend, a, inthe wire forming the ylast coil at each end, and then pass the bentportion a across or partially across the open end of the spring,preferably between the side to which the bracket is attached and a linedrawn across thecenter of the spring lengthwise of the chair, this bentportion being on substantially the same plane as the last coil, andpreferably extending entirely across the open end of the spring. Thepoint at which the short bend in the wire is made must of course dependsomewhat on the size and character of the spring. If the brackethereinafter described be adapted for bending and passing the wire at apoint about a third across the spring from the side nearest to therocker and base-rail, as shown, for instance, in Fig. l, it will beapparent that if the spring is made larger or smaller the position ofthe bend should be changed relatively, so that in a large spring it maynot be more than one-quarter of the distance across, (see Fig. 3,) whilein a small one it may be a full half, or directly across the center ofthe spring. (See Fig. 4.) It is also apparent that instead of extendingSerial No. 194,220. (No model) directly across the open end of thespring the bent portion may continue in a somewhat circular direction,(see Fig. 5,) and, if so desired, the end of the wire forming the bentportion may be passed under or partially under the last coil, or betweenthe last two coils, (see Fig. 3,) or otherwise fastened and held inplace.

I'construct my improved bracket preferably with two projecting portions,b, extending substantially at right angles from the main plate, intendedto be securedto the rockers and baserails of the chair; but it isapparent that only one or even three such projecting portions may beused, depending somewhat on the size of the spring. In my preferred formthese projecting portions of the bracket are4 provided with grooves bb2, the former of vwhich is adapted to receive the bent portion of thespring, and the latter to fit over its last coil at the point or pointswhere theprojecting portion or portions come in contact therewith whenthe bracket and spring are secured together; but it is apparent that thegroove b2 may be omitted and the bracket have a plain surface at thepoint where it thus comes in Contact with the spring. (See Fig. 6.)

In Fig. 7, which is a vertical cross-sectiou taken in a line parallelwith the rocker and base-rail, I have shown a modifica-tion, in which,instead of passing directly across the open end of the spring insubstantially the same plane as the last coil, the bent portion issomewhat looped, or, in other words, bent or curved away from the bodyof the coils. As shown in this figure, the bent portion passes throughthe grooves b at an angle instead of lying iiat therein, as in the otherures; but this is not necessary. The bracket in this case is alsochanged tov adapt it to the loop of the bent portion-that is, the endsof its projecting portion farthest from the main plate extend upwardly(scc Fig. 8) as far as may be necessary to receive and hold the loopedbent portion. i

It is of course apparent that my invention may be used in connectionwith a double spring, or two springs placed side by side, (see Fig. 9,)as well as with a single spring, and in such case all the variations orforms above mentioned will be equally applicable.

IOO

Other variations inform will readily suggest themselves-as, lforinstance, the .projecting portions of the bracket may be provided withother means of receiving and holding the bent portion of the spring thangrooves,technically,

such as upwardly-projecting studs or shoul-I ders, (see Fig. '10,) or anupward bend of the` side of the spring intended to be nearest to therocker and base-rail, and the ends thereof under the bent portionextending across the body of the spring. The bent portion then.' fittinginto the groove b', and the upper-edge Iof the last coil-into the grooveb2, the seat andl base vparts of the chair will be at once rmly; andrigidly secured together by the drawing'.v

tension of the spring.

last two coils, when desired to be so secured,

and that it makes the spring shorter, and *thus= adapts it to chairshavingnarrow.rockers and, base-rails, as is frequently the case inrattan'y or bent-wood goods.

Some of the advantages of having the .bent` :portion not more thanhalfway across .theyy open end ofthe spring from the side nearest to therocker and base-rail are, that it enables the shortening of theprojecting portion of the` bracket, thus saving material; that thespring is more firmly and rigidly clamped and held in the casting thenearer the bent portion is to the side at which the bracketis secured,the draw' ing tension of the body of the spring in such case acting morepowerfully; that it obviates anyobjectionable unevenness in thestretching or extending of the coils of the spring, and, speakinggenerally and with reference to practical effect, that it enables thesame bracket to be used on differentsized springs having their bentportions the same distance from the rockers and base-rails.

I have spoken of the bent portion of the spring as -including all of thelast coil after the point at which it takes its short bend; but as thegreater part of this portion may be perfectly straight I of course havenot intended in a technical sense, :for while this -is their positionwhen the bracket is atthe upper end of the spring it may not be strictlyso when the bracket is secured to the lower end and fastened to thebase-rail.

I claim- 1. In combination with the rockers and baserails of a platformrocking-chair, two broad, short, stiff, spiral springs and brackets forsecuring the same to the rockers and base-rails, each of the springshaving the wire forming its last coil at each end bent and passedcrosswise of its open end, and each of the brackets havinga projectingportion adapted to press against the under side of the bent portion andthe upper side of the last coil of the spring, whereby the seat and:base parts of the chair are rigidly secured and-.held together by thedrawing tension of the springs, substantially as described.

2, In combination with the rockers and baserails of a platformrocking-chair, two broad,

short, stiff, spiral springs and brackets for Some of the advantages ofhaving the bent@ portion pass across the openlend of the spring@ insubstantially the same plane as its lastcoil, are, kthat it shortens thebent portion, and thus? saves material; that it enablesthe short-bendiVto be made in the same general direction as` ythe coils, thus obviatingan abrupt bend in a different direction, ytendingto destroy the co-'yhesion of the metal; that it enables theend, of the bentportionto beinserted between the securingthe same to the rockers and baserails,eachofthe springshaving the wire forming its last coil at each end bent andpassed crosswise of its open end in substantially vthe same plane as itslast coil, and each of the brackets'having a `projectingportion providedwith a groove at its outer end to receive the 4bent portion of thespring, whereby the seat and base parts of the chair are rigidly secured`and'held together 'by the drawing tension of the springs, substantiallyas described.

3. In combination with the rockers and baserails of a platformrocking-chair, two broad, short, stiff, spiral springs and brackets forsecuring the same to the rockers and baserails, each of the springshaving the wire forming its last coil at each end bent and .passedcrosswise of its open end in substantially the same plane as its lastcoil, and in a yline not more than half-way across the open 'groove toreceive the bent portion of the spring, whereby the seat and base partsof the chair are rigidly secu red and held together by the drawingtension of the springs, substantially as described.

4. In combination with the rockers and baserails of a platformrocking-chair, two broad, short, stiff, spiral springs and brackets forsecuring the same to the rockers and base-rails, each of the springshaving the wire forming .its last coil ateach end bent and passedcrosswise of its open end in substantially the same plane as its lastcoil, and in aline not more than half-way across the open end of thespring from the side nearest to the rocker and baserail, and each of thebrackets having two projecting portions provided, respectively, with anupper groove at their outer ends to receive IIO the bent portion of thespring, and a lower Y parts of the chair are rigidly secured and held ltogether by the drawing tension of the springs, substantially asdescribed. 4

5. The combination of a broad, short, stili', close-coiled, spiralspring and two attachingbrackets, the spring having the Wire forming itslast coil at each end bent and passed cross- Wise of its open end in aline not more than half-Way across the .open end of the spring l fromthe side nearest to thebraekets, and each Y of the brackets having aprojecting portion

